Buddy Starcher | |
---|---|
Birth name | Oby Edgar Starcher |
Born | March 16, 1906 |
Origin | Ripley, West Virginia, U.S. |
Died | November 2, 2001 Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 95)
Genres | Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 1946–1967 |
Labels | 4 Star, Boone |
Oby Edgar "Buddy" Starcher (March 16, 1906 – November 2, 2001) was an American country singer whose first record releases were in 1946, [1] although he had been performing since his teens, often billed as "The Boy from Down Home". [2]
Born in Ripley, West Virginia, he starred on his own show on WCHS-TV from 1960 to 1966, and ran a record label named B.E.S. (for his initials) during this time. [3] However, he is best known for his spoken word recording entitled " History Repeats Itself", written with Minnie Pearl. Originally released on his own label in 1965, [4] it was re-released on the larger and better distributed Boone Records in 1966. The track recounts uncanny similarities between the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, accompanied by a musical background featuring " Battle Hymn of the Republic" and " America the Beautiful". [5]
The re-released single hit No. 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart [6] and the album of the same name from which it was drawn peaked at No. 37 on the US Country Albums chart. [7]
His wife, Mary Ann Starcher (née Estes), was also a musician and often appeared with him on his television show. [8]
Year | Album | US Country | Label |
---|---|---|---|
1962 | Buddy Starcher and His Mountain Guitar | — | Starday |
1966 | History Repeats Itself | 37 | Decca |
1967 | Just Buddy and His Guitar No. 1 | — | Bluebonnet |
Country Soul and Inspiration | — | Heartwarming | |
1986 | Me and My Guitar (Bootleg Re-issue of 1967 album for Bluebonnet) | — | Old Homestead |
Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Country |
US [9] | |||
1949 | "I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand" | 8 | — | single only |
1966 | " History Repeats Itself" | 2 | 39 | History Repeats Itself |
"Day of Decision" | — | 131 |